Means for distributing liquid refrigerants



: pt 8, 1942- G. M. K'LEUCKER 2 295,088

MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID REFRIGERANTS Filed March 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE M. KLEUCKER ATTORNEY P 1942- G. M. KLEUCKER 2,295,088

MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID REFRIGERANTS Filed March 24, 1939 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR ATTORNEY GEORGE M. KLEuckER- Patented Sept. 8, 1942 MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID REFRIGERANTS George M. Kleucker, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to William P. Gruner, St.

Louis, Mo.

Application March 24, 1939, Serial No. 263,865

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful means for the distribution of liquid refrigerant.

My invention has for a primary object the provision of a method for the distribution of liquid refrigerant which is efiicient and economical, which prevents inefficient heat transfer due to the formation of gas films and gas bubbles upon the heat exchange'surfaces, which achieves an intimate contact between the liquid refrigerant film and the surface of the heat exchange means, and which utilizes the mass and movement of the film of liquid refrigerant to shear off or remove intervening films of gas bubbles, oil, and dirt from the heat exchange surface.

My invention has for a further object the provision of means for copiously flowing liquid refrigerant over a heat exchange surface in sum-- cient mass and with sufficient velocity to prevent the formation of any interfering films of gas bubbles, oil, or dirt and to shear off from said heat exchange surfaces any interfering films of gas bubbles, oil, or dirt which may tend to form thereon.

My invention has for an additional object the provision of means for distributing liquid refrigerant upon'heat exchange surfaces which is simple in construction and economical in cost,

which may be readily installed in any type of refrigeration system, which may be conveniently adapted to any type of heat exchange apparatus, and which is highly efiicient in the performance of its stated functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets):

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of a heat exchanger equipped with liquid refrigerant distribution means embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the liquid refrigerant distribution means of my invention;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the heat exchanger and liquid refrigerant distribution means, taken approximately along the line 3-3, Figure l;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the heat exchanger and refrigerant distribution means, taken approximately along the line 4-4, Figure 3 further modified form of refrigerant distribution means of my present invention;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view, taken approximately along the line H-H, Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken approximately along the line IZ-IZ, Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view of a heat exchange pipe equipped with a further modified form of refrigerant distribution means of my present invention; v

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken approximately along the line l4 l4, Figure 13; v

Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form'of refrigerant distribution means of my present invention;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form of refrigerant distribution means of my present invention;

Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a plurality of heat exchange tubes of the shell-and-tube type illustrating the application thereto of refrigerant distribution means'of my present invention;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form of refrigerant distribution means of my present invention; and

Figure 19 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken approximately along the line Iii-l9, Figure 18.

Broadly speaking, my present invention for the distribution of liquid refrigerant consists in'copiously flowing a sheet of liquid refrigerant over a heat exchange surface to form a substantially continuous and uninterrupted filmrthereon, preventing by scrubbing action the formation of any interfering films of gas bubbles, dirt, oroil.

As is well known, whenever liquid refrigerant is introduced upon a heat exchange surface under certain given conditions of back pressure, a certain proportion of the liquid refrigerant will be evaporated, absorbing from the heat exchange surface the requisite number of heat units refrom the heat exchange surface.

quired for such evaporation. Accordingly, I supply a suificient mass of liquid refrigerant which is substantially greater than the amount of liquid refrigerant which can be evaporated under any given conditions of back pressure by the available number of heat units which may be absorbed Thus, a substantial excess of liquid refrigerant will flow downwardly over the heat exchange surface and be collected at the bottom thereof. This collected excess of liquid refrigerant is then recirculated to a header at the top of the heat exchange surface, whence it flows downwardly again. In order to compensate for the amount of liquid refrigerant which has been evaporated as a result of heat absorption, I continuously supply fresh liquid refrigera-nt from the high pressure side of any conventional type of refrigerating system to its low pressure side and the evaporation space in the heat exchanger for the establishment of the desired or selected back pressure.-

Accordingly, I may provide a heat exchanger A having upper and lower horizontal headers I, 2, preferably of elongated hemicylindrical type and connected by a plurality of spaced parallel heat exchange tubes 3 welded or otherwise sein the lower header 2, is a refrigerant supply line 8 connected through any conventional type of control means to the high pressure side of the compressor (not shown), all as best seen in Fig ure 1.

Welded or otherwise securely mounted in the upper end of each of the heat exchange tubes 1, is a closure plug 9 centrally provided with a refrigerant distributor B, which includes a vertical orifice forming pipe I opening at its upper end into the header I and provided at its lower or orifice end with three radially outwardly extending V-shapedfins or vanes II, which project downwardly below the discharge mouth of the pipe I0 and are, in turn, provided with a somewhat triangularly shaped horizontally disposed distributor plate I2 arcuately cut away along its margin between the fins II in the provision ofcurely mounted at their ends in, and extending spreader lips I3, all as best seen in Figure 2 and g for purposes presently more fully appearing.

The liquid refrigerant flows downwardly through the pipe I0 and, striking against the upper face of the distribution plate I2, is spread radially outwardly in all directions, 'as shown in Figure 4, thereby forming a substantially continuous annular sheet around the inner surface of the particular heat exchange pipe 3. and falling downwardly in an uninterrupted cylindrical film having substantial mass and velocity. The liquid refrigerant furthermore swirls around the outer margins of the radial fins II in completing the encirclement of the inner face of the heat exchange tubes 3, leaving small free spaces s, so

thatany gas which tends to accumulate in the top of the heat exchange pipe 3 may be drawn out under suction without bubbling through the refrigerant film and breaking or otherwise interfering with it.

I may also provide a modified form of refrigerant distributor C, which includes a pipe I4 having three radially outwardly and downwardly extending arms I5 slightly cupped or concaved at their outer end, as at I6, and integrally formed with a substantially triangular distribution plate I! having somewhat arcuately inwardly curved marginal lips I8. When positioned in a heat exchange tube I9, the distributor pipe I4 and the associated distributor plate I! will function substantially in the same manner as the previously described distributor B, producing a ring of liquid refrigerant upon the inner face of the heat exchange tube I9. By reason of the shape of the radial arms I5, small gas evacuating free spaces will be formed, all as bestseen in Figure 5.

I may also provide a further modified form of refrigerant distributor D, which includes a pipe 20 provided at its lower or discharge end with three radially outwardly and downwardly extending arms 2| disposed respectively in radial planes and being, in turn, provided at their lower extremities with a somewhat triangularly shaped distributor plate 22 having arcuately inwardly curved discharge lips 23 and downwardly bent triangular-projections 24 for breaking the surface tension of the liquid refrigerant film across the under face of the plate 22 in the region of the narrow end portions 25 thereqf. When positioned centrally in a heat exchange tube, the distributor D will produce a highly satisfactory uniform cylindrical film or sheet upon the inner face of the heat exchange pipe, all as best seen in Figure 6.

I may also provide a modified form of refrigerant distributor E, which includes a refrigerant supply pipe 20' interiorly provided with an axially downwardly projecting support member 26 preferably of equilateral Y-shaped transverse cross-section. Welded or otherwise rigidly mounted upon the lower extremity of the support member 26 in concentric alignment with,

and extending preferably at right angles to the longitudinal axis of, the tube 20' is a circular distributor disk 26'. When positioned centrally in a heat exchange tube IS, the distributor E will produce a highly satisfactory uniform cylindrical film upon the inner face thereof, as best seen in Figure 8.

My present invention may also be applied with I equal facility to shell and tube type coolers in which the substance to be cooled is passed through the interior, and the refirgerant is applied upon the exterior surface-of the heat exchange pipe. For purposes of illustration, I have diagrammatically shown in Figure-9 a shell and tube type cooler A, which includes an upper housing or shell 21 horizontally divided by two spaced parallel tube sheets 28, 29, into an upper header 30 and an intermediate header 3|. Extending vertically through the tube sheet 28 and supported in the tube sheet 28 for communica- .is a liquid refrigerant supply line 34.

Mounted in the tube sheet 29 in diametrally opposed positions around cache! the heat exchange pipes 32, is a pair of refrigerant distribprising a refrigerant-containing header, a heat pipe 32 in a uniformly distributed sheet, meeting with the similarly formed refrigerant sheet from the opposite or companion distributing jet F so as to encase the pipe in an uninterrupted downwardly moving cylindrical film.

I may also provide a distributor member G, which includes preferably a plurality of vertical pipes 39 welded or otherwise rigidly mounted at their lower ends in an annular distributing ring 43 of substantially the shape shown in Figure 14.

I have found that I may also apply liquid reexchanger tube sealed at its upper end in and extending through the header, a plug in the upper end of the heat exchanger tube, a tube mounted in and extending through the plug, said tube having a discharge orifice, a-fiat circular plate spaced from and extending transversely across said orifice for deflecting the fiow of liquid refrigerant therefrom, and a plurality of annularly spacedradial baflies mounted in and projecting axially from the tube for supporting the plate in said spaced relationship.

2. In combination with a heat exchanger tube having a plugged upper end and fixed at such frigerantin substantially the same manner to the external surfaces of heat exchange tubes in shell and-tube type coolers by locating a plurality of distributors B in intermediate relationship to the heat exchange pipes b, as illustrated in Figure 17. It wi1l,'of course, be apparent in this connection that I may employ either the distributors C or D in the same manner with entirely satisfactory results.

I have also found that my present invention may be applied to fiat heat exchange surfaces, in which case I may employ a distributor member F, which is substantially similar in form and construction to the distributorF, except that the.v

forward or discharge lip 38' thereof is of straight line formation to conform to the adjacent surface of the heat exchange plate 4|, upon which the liquid refrigerant film or sheet is to be provided. In case the plate 4| is of substantial width, it may be desirable to provide a plurality 'of distributorsF' to insure complete coverage thereof.

Frequently in refrigeration practice, it becomes desirable to employ a pair of relatively closely spaced heat exchange plates l2, 43, in which case I may provide a further modified form of refrigerant distributor H, which includes a vertical pipe 44 provided at its lower or discharge end with an X-shaped discharge plate 45 having upwardly projecting jet-confining flanges 66, 41, along its transverse marginaall as best seen in Figure 16.

In some types of installations, it becomes desirable to employ a substantially wide refrigeration or heat exchange plate 48, in which case I may provide a refrigerant distributor G, which includes a vertical supply pipe 49 provided at its Y lower discharge end with 9. preferably horizontal discharge pipe 5ilhaving a plurality of axially ""Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Liquid refrigerant distributing means comupper end in a refrigerant-containing header, liquid refrigerant distributing means comprising a tube of substantially smaller diametral size than the heat exchanger tube disposed in and extending through the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube for communication at its upper end with the interior of the header and projecting downwardly below the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube, a support member including a plurality of symmetrically arranged radial web members marginally secured to the tube adjacent its lower end and projecting axially downwardly therefrom, and a distributor plate secured upon its upper face to the webs.

3. A heat exchanger tube having a plugged upper end and fixed at such upper end in a re- Irigerant-containing header, liquid refrigerant distributing means-comprising a tube of substantially smaller diametral size than the heat exchanger tube disposed inand extending through the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube for communication at its upper end with the interior of the header and projecting downwardly below the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube, a support member including a plurality of symmetrically arranged radial web members secured at th'einouter margins to the inner surface of the tube adjacent its lower end and projecting axially downwardly therefrom, and a distributor plate secured upon its upper face to the webs.

4. In combination with a heat exchanger tube having a plugged upper end and fixed at such upper end in a refrigerant-containing header, liquid refrigerant distributing means comprising a tube of substantially smaller diametral size than the heat exchanger tube disposed in and extending through the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube for communication at its upper end with the interior of the header and projecting downwardly below the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube, a support member including a plurality of symmetrically arranged radial-web members marginally secured to the tube adjacent its lower end and projecting axially downwardly therefrom, and a distributor plate secured upon its upper face to the web members and extend ing outwardly therefrom into substantial proximity along its peripheral margin with the inner 1 the surface of the heat exchanger tube with a minimum of turbulence and without any substantial spray formation.

5. A heat exchanger tube having a plugged upper end and fixed at such upper end in a refrigerant-containing header, liquid. refrigerant distributing means comprising a tube of substantially smaller diametral size than the heat exchanger tube disposed in'. and extending through the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube for communication at its upper end with the interior of the header and projecting downwardly below the plugged end of the heat exchanger tube, a

support member of equilateral Y-shaped trans-' tube for communication at its upper end with the interior of the header and projecting downwardly below the plugged end of theheat exchanger tube, a support member 01 equilateral Y-shaped transverse cross-section, said support member extending for a substantial portion 01' its length upwardly into the tube. being secured therein and projecting axially downwardly therefrom for axially splitting the downwardly flowing column of liquid within the tube into three outwardly deflectable smoothly flowing columns of liquid, and a distributor plate secured upon its upper face to the lower extremity of the support member.

GEORGE M. KLEUCKER. 

